In 1996, Clem, of NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX,
became the principal force behind an effort to rewrite a 600 plus page
Safety and Health Handbook into plain language. The handbook covers
safety and health requirements for civil servants and contractors at the
center, as well as other related sites in New Mexico and California.

The original manual was written in "legalese", was poorly organized
and mixed administrative and technical material. Under Clem's guidance,
the new handbook has been streamlined and written in a user-friendly
question and answer format. Each chapter begins with "Who must follow
this chapter?", so employees no longer have to wade through irrelevant
introductory material to find out the information they need.

"This is a great example of taking critical technical information
and making it accessible to the reader," Vice President Gore said.
"More importantly, the rewrite of this manual will help ensure a safer
workplace for NASA's employees."

"Safety is our number one priority at NASA, " said NASA
Administrator Daniel Goldin. "I can't think of a better way to promote
that goal than to communicate safe procedures to our employees in plain
language. I'm very proud of the team at Johnson Space Center for this
achievement and for the Vice President's recognition."

Today's award builds on an Executive Memorandum the Vice President
announced on June 1, 1998. The memorandum directed all executive
departments and agencies to: (1) write any new document that tells the
public how to get a benefit or comply with a requirement in plain
language by October 1, 1998; (2) write all new government regulations in
plain language by January 1, 1999; and (3) revise all existing letters
and notices into plain language by 2002.

With regard to today's announcement, below is a sample of the
language both before and after it was re-written. Additional material
from the manual and past plain language awards may be found on the
www.plainlanguage.gov web site.

BEFORE
Cryogenic Materials
Chapter 204

204.1 Purpose The purpose of this chapter is to provide minimum safety
requirements for the safe handling and use of the more commonly used
cryogenic substances and to identify specific precautions, emergency
treatment (Attachment 204A, Appendix B), protective clothing and
equipment guidelines, training requirements, and housekeeping
information.

Requirements set forth in this chapter shall apply to all JSC personnel
performing operations that require the use, handling, or storage of
cryogenic materials. Liquid oxygen or liquid hydrogen used as
propellants shall follow the requirements of chapter 206, "Explosives
and Propellants."

Each supervisor involved with cryogenic substances shall thoroughly
understand the hazards involved, the safe handling methods, work
procedures, and emergency procedures, and ensure that these procedures
are understood and strictly adhered to.

Facility managers shall be familiar with the cryogenic safety and
emergency procedures to ensure that they are implemented in the
workplace.

Each employee working with cryogenic substances shall thoroughly
understand the hazards involved, safe handling methods, work procedures,
and emergency procedures.

AFTER

This could be you . . .
Two technicians passed out while transferring liquid nitrogen from a
truck because nitrogen spilled into the loading dock and displaced
oxygen in the area. They were rescued and are okay.
A liquid helium dewar ruptured. Fortunately, no one was in the room at
the time.
A liquid nitrogen dewar exploded and sent glass fragments flying.
Fortunately, the technicians working with the dewar were not in the path
of the flying glass.

You must follow this chapter if you:
a. Handle, store, or transfer cryogenic liquids as a part of your
job.

b. Handle or work around gaseous nitrogen, oxygen, or hydrogen.
c. Supervise anyone who does the above tasks.